Photo: Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey
Last night in Hershey, Caps goaltending prospect Pheonix Copley did something remarkable. No, I’m not talking about the AHL rookie’s second straight shutout. Nor am I talking about his mind-boggling shutout streak of 144:28.
Copley tried to scored an empty net goal!
GIF by Fedor Fedin
Late in the third period with Lehigh Valley goalie Anthony Stolarz pulled, Copley corralled a Phantoms dump-in and let the puck fly from behind his own crease. The attempt sailed (very) wide, which is sad, but in the end it was a smart play. The Bears were shorthanded and would not be penalized for icing the puck.
Somewhere, @Holts170 is smiling at that Copley goal try.
— Tim Leone (@timleone) October 26, 2014
If Copley had hit the back of the twine, he would have been the first Bears goalie ever to score in a game. Only 6 AHL goalies have scored goals on direct shots in the league’s 74-year history.
“I saw the net and an opening so I just went for it,” Copley said in an interview with Tim Leone after the game.
Leone also spoke to Capitals goaltending coach Mitch Korn. When Leone asked what Korn thought about Copley’s undefeated (3-0-0) start to his professional career, he only had one thing to say:
“Shhh! Shhh!”
